West Didsbury CE Primary School, Manchester
West Didsbury CE Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Manchester, part of Thrive Church of England Academy Trust Ltd. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2018. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 58th-highest of the 258 schools in Manchester with published results, and 4,096th of 14,452 across England. It was 98% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2018)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Manchester (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
West Didsbury CE Primary School in detail
West Didsbury CE Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "Welcome to West Didsbury CE Primary School. West Didsbury CE is a 2 form entry primary school set in the heart of West Didsbury. We work in close collaboration with our families to provide the very best outcomes - academically, socially and emotionally - for every one of our pupils."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 81% of Year 6 pupils at West Didsbury CE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 86% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 74% in Manchester and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 88% in reading and 88% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at West Didsbury CE Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 71 families put West Didsbury CE Primary School as their first choice and 220 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 12 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at West Didsbury CE Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to West Didsbury CE Primary School are Cavendish Primary School (0.3 miles); St Paul's CofE Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 83% reading, 76% maths); Old Moat Primary School (0.6 miles, Outstanding, 78% reading, 80% maths); and St Cuthbert's RC Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 89% reading, 82% maths).
West Didsbury CE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
Cavendish Primary SchoolSt Paul's CofE Primary SchoolOld Moat Primary SchoolSt Cuthbert's RC Primary School
The trust
West Didsbury CE Primary School is one of 5 schools run by Thrive Church of England Academy Trust Ltd, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 62% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
13.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 32 pupils (8%) received SEN support and 12 (3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is West Didsbury (Manchester Metrolink), about 200 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Central Road (sw-bound), 60 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, West Didsbury CE Primary School issued 2 suspensions, 0.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to West Didsbury CE Primary School are Didsbury High School (0.6 miles), The Barlow RC High School (1 mile) and Loreto High School Chorlton (1.2 miles).
Didsbury High SchoolThe Barlow RC High SchoolLoreto High School Chorlton
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from June 2018, 8 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its June 2018 inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
13.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 88% to 81% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 86% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 83% to 75% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.8
Avg class size
28.8
Infant (KS1)
28.8
KS2
14
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with West Didsbury CE Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near West Didsbury CE Primary School.
- Kidszone Out Of School Care890m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to West Didsbury CE Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. West Didsbury CE Primary School is in Manchester; for families living there:
Apply to Manchester for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 19
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 9
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 10 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Manchester is 22 (the median across 222 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at West Didsbury CE Primary School
Will you get a place at West Didsbury CE Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against West Didsbury CE Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for West Didsbury CE Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to West Didsbury CE Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Manchester, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at West Didsbury CE Primary School for 2015 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Manchester got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
411 pupils
420 places
9 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Manchester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Manchester
Across Manchester council
Places available
7,530
Applications
5,736
Got 1st preference
95.0%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Manchester council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
32
SEN Support
12
EHC Plans
10.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
402
Total Pupils
204
Boys
198
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
19
Teachers
21.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,746
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,205
Per pupil
£2355k
Total funding
£92k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.2%
Overall absence
9.0%
Persistent absence
366
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
West Didsbury CE Primary School
Questions parents ask about West Didsbury CE Primary School
What are SATs results like at West Didsbury CE Primary School?
Of the pupils at West Didsbury CE Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 81% reached the expected standard in reading and 86% did so in maths.
What is West Didsbury CE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
West Didsbury CE Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2018, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for West Didsbury CE Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When West Didsbury CE Primary School is oversubscribed, Manchester allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at West Didsbury CE Primary School?
West Didsbury CE Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 98% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at West Didsbury CE Primary School?
Classes at West Didsbury CE Primary School average 28.8 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to West Didsbury CE Primary School?
West Didsbury CE Primary School has around 402 pupils on roll. 13% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at West Didsbury CE Primary School?
4.2% of sessions were missed at West Didsbury CE Primary School in 2024/25. 9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to West Didsbury CE Primary School?
Apply through Manchester's coordinated admissions process, naming West Didsbury CE Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does West Didsbury CE Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of West Didsbury CE Primary School: Kidszone Out Of School Care (890m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near West Didsbury CE Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 10 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Manchester is 22 (the median across 222 schools, same distance and years).
Where is West Didsbury CE Primary School?
West Didsbury CE Primary School is at Central Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M20 4ZA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)